After months of waiting and speculation, the 2.0L turbocharged Sonata with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) technology has been unveiled at the New York Auto show. The first time we saw a turbocharged direct injection engine in a car from the Hyundai corporate family was the 2008 Kia Koup concept that produced 290 horsepower. This same engine now powers the Sonata to the tune of 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. Now, this should spell some seriously good performance figures given that it produces even more horsepower than a Golf R. Of course, we do not expect it to out sprint a Golf R, given the Sonata's sheer size.

Like the turbo GDI engines from Ford and the Volkswagen Group, this new turbo Theta II engine has a broad, flat torque curve with the peak being sustained between 1,800 and 4,500 rpm. Hyundai is using a twin-scroll turbocharger like the one used by BMW in its latest engines, which is said to minimizes turbocharger lag while maximizing combustion efficiency and power output. Hyundai is estimating fuel consumption figures of 22 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, which is just marginally less than the non-turbo models on the highway and significantly better than any of the V6 powered competitors.

The top of the range 2.0T model shall be equipped with panoramic roof, 18 inch hyper silver alloy wheels, dual exhaust system and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.